Sounders scouting report: Nicolas Lodeiro, the hero Seattle deserves

Even though the saga that brought Nicolas Lodeiro to the Sounders has been dragging on for months, many fans are still getting to know the player who could make his first start for Seattle on Sunday. For a player with a pedigree like his, Lodeiro has been mostly under the radar for most of his professional career, which is probably why the Sounders were able to snatch him from one of the biggest clubs in the western hemisphere.

Lodeiro started his career at Nacional in Uruguay, where he impressed enough to earn a move to Ajax of Amsterdam (his old teammate at Nacional, Luis Suarez, played a big part on both sides of the move). He won the league with Ajax, but only made 21 appearances over two seasons and was later shipped off to Brazil’s Botafogo. His spell with that club was fairly tepid, and as they tried to move him to Brazilian rivals Corinthians, a mixture of legal limbo and a freak soap dish accident kept him from breaking onto the Sao Paulo club’s first team.

It was then that he got a lifelong wish: to play for one of the biggest clubs in South America, Boca Juniors of Argentina. He only spent a single season there, but it was probably the best of his career. He racked up 30 appearances with six goals and seven assists for the Argentine giants, and fans of Boca were certainly upset to see him leave.

Here’s a scouting report of the new Sounders DP:

Quick facts

Name: Marcelo Nicolás Lodeiro Benítez

Hometown: Paysandú, Uruguay

Preferred role: Central attacking midfielder

International experience: A total of 42 appearances and three goals for Uruguay. Played in 2010 and 2014 World Cups (fourth place in 2010). Won Copa America in 2011.

Strengths: Technique, passing (especially through balls), cutting inside to shoot, takes a wicked free kick with his left foot.

Weaknesses: Injuries and poor luck have kept him from playing nearly as much as most players his age, and there’s always a worry that past injuries will bother him.

X-factor: His winning mentality has been constantly praised upon his move to Seattle, with some calling his mindset “infectious.” He raises the level of play everywhere that he’s been, from Uruguay to Boca Juniors.

Highest honors: Winning trophies in every league he’s played in: Brazil, Argentina, the Netherlands. Playing in the Copa Libertadores multiple times (making the semi-finals twice), as well as winning the Copa America with Uruguay.

Must-see goal: This one for Boca Juniors against Union defies, well, everything.

Greatest goal celebration: His “phone” celebration after his first Boca Juniors goal is ridiculous and amazing.

Spenser Davis also covers the Sounders for Sounder at Heart.